Heart problems and medication!!!

[optomistic]

About 8 weeks ago I had a heart monitor on for 48 hours.(I was having palpitations) I now have to go 4th January for echocardiogram. There have been no heart problems in family. Sometimes I wonder if medications can cause something like this!!!! Has anyone else had similar? X

[earthwitch]

Medications can cause heart problems, but this disease can also affect your heart as well. Glad they are checking it out for you. The echocardiagram should give them good information about what is going on, and whether it is anything serious or not. Palpitations (which are often atrial fibrillation) can be quite a normal thing though, and not really be a problem unless it lasts for too long at a time, so it may not end up being anything serious.

I know my heart absolutely races at the drop of a hat when I am on either steroids or some antidepressants (like amitryptilline), and probably some other drugs too, but so far its been fine otherwise and I haven't required treatment. A friend of mine had quite bad atrial fibrillation and she was put on heart meds for it. The first one she tried wasn't wonderful, but the second one has been brilliant.

[alicn]

Id agree with earthwitch. I work in cardiology and palpitations are common and either nothing to worry about or easily treated once they have been diagnosed that is! It can be difficult to get evidence of someones palpitations- hopefully you will have had a few whilst wearing the monitor which should help. The echocardiogram is a simple ultrasound scan of the heart which looks at the structure of it and is a very usual test done for most patients with palps. Heart disease can be a risk factor of ra but palps are not usually an indication of coronary artery disease which is a result of inflammation hence the link to patients with inflammatory conditions. Im sure your palps will be innocent or certainly very sortable so try not to worry x